Golden Gate: Russian Greek among five probables for El Camino Real

Five runners are under consideration for the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 18 at Golden Gate Fields.

The four possible local runners for the 1 1/8-mile Tapeta race are California Derby and Gold Rush Stakes winner Russian Greek; Cahill Chrome and Unveiled Heat, second and fifth in the California Derby; and Rockinarz Recruit, a maiden winner here who went south and ran third in an allowance race in his last start.

Lucky Chappy, a Team Valor runner trained by Graham Motion, may come from the East Coast for the El Camino Real, which would be his first try on the main track. An Irish-bred son of High Chaparral, Lucky Chappy made his first three starts in Italy. He was third in the Grade 3 Bourbon at Keeneland in his U.S. debut, then ran fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and second in the $100,000 Kittens Joy at Gulfstream on Jan 21.

The official nominations list for the El Camino Real Derby comes out Thursday

Cahill Chrome had a 1:13.80 six-furlong bullet work on Sunday for trainer Roger Hansen.

Russian Greek worked 1:16.40 in an easy six-furlong drill for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer last Thursday. Jockey Aaron Gryder said Russian Greek, a son of Giant’s Causeway, was very aggressive working by himself, but added, “He galloped out strong. He’s doing great.”

Rockinarz Recruit also worked last Thursday, going five-eighths in 1:02.00 for trainer Lloyd Mason.

Trainer Steve Specht said he planned to work Unveiled Heat one mile Thursday in his final major prep for the El Camino.

The race will be featured on local television with a one-hour show that will be telecast live by Comcast SportsNet California.